He knew he shouldn't, but it was 10 o'clock, the pastor had gone to his suite of rooms for the evening, and he lay in bed, like his time in Seminary. Those days seemed so long ago - full of ideas to help people and bring them closer to God were soon dashed to the floor as he thought of the corruption and disrespect of the church as an institution.
While he was in the Seminary, James would often take solace in the arms of Jack or Jim at the local Gentleman's Club, "If I am going to enjoy a drink, I might as well enjoy the view too," he would say to himself. After the first couple of drinks James' inhibitions would leave him and he would enjoy time getting private dances and even, when his cash flow was good he would enjoy time in the Champagne Room. The caresses, embraces, and movement of the strippers' hips would entrance and excite him so much more than the study of Scripture.
But the life he had chosen - the life that was expected of him didn't allow for those kinds of outlets. Rather, his time was supposed to be spent in prayer and study, and anything dealing with a woman's body was to be scorned, but how could he do so, when God Himself made them so beautiful and perfect? But like his priestly advisors told him, "You just offer it up." Getting berated and scorned in meeting after meeting almost made him go out most nights. Some nights it was to the local bars or wing places for some beer and wings and to take in some eye candy, other nights it took him to the "Inn," the place he would come to call his second home. Most men studying for the priesthood would have taken this sign and love of going to the Inn as a sign to let this profession pass by, but when this is all one knows and the internal push from ones family, then nights at the Inn were needed.
Even when James was ordained a deacon and would have to travel back home for his weekend assignment of preaching and baptizing James found a remote "Inn" while he was away from his known one. This weekend home-away-from-home palled in comparison to the original, but would do in a pinch. Here he could be anyone he wanted rather than Deacon James. He could be an architect, an engineer, a weary hedge fund manager, a teacher - anyone. And he was. He loved sitting mysteriously in the corner booth watching the half-naked flesh saunter by wondering who he was, what he had in his wallet, and what he had in his pants. He wouldn't seek the strippers out, he let them come to him out of curiosity, and they did - usually after the third drink (which allowed his inhibitions to pass away and his obsession with always checking to make sure he didn't recognize anyone inside) - then he could finally enjoy himself.
One evening Sugar (as if that was her real name), kept eyeing James from the bar, then during her time on stage, James always caught her looking over, probably wondering why the cheapskate wasn't tipping, but he had a plan.
James was not unattractive, and was very unassuming. He was funny, polite, and educated, something these women rarely saw on a day-to-day basis. He always dressed comfortably, his bald head always clean shaven, his slacks and shirts ironed and his goatee neatly trimmed. He wore glasses only to drive, but when he was here, he always wore them, in hopes that it would throw off anyone who may know him, as well as, to help him see them, before they saw him.
As Sugar finished her set she made some small talk with the big tippers, went to the bar for a drink then bee-lined it to James. Clearly she wanted to know who this guy was. As she approached James he noticed her curly blonde hair, naturally curly, but had some product in it to make it shiny, her dark green eyes were piercing. She was wearing a blue gown that had diamond cut outs on the side, showing off her mid-section and her lower back, but it also accentuated her wonderful curves, which James was drinking in. Her breasts bounced naturally against the dress, and her hips allowed the gown to simply sway with her walk.
Deacon James was sure he was about to get to play 20 questions or be shamed for not going to the stage to tip her. He didn't care either way, if it was 20 questions and she could hold a conversation then she would get her pay off in the Champagne Room or if she was going to shame him, then she wasn't the one.
Sugar walked up to the table with her Long Island Iced Tea in hand, she knew how to work the dress she had on. Sugar asked, "Do you mind if I join you?"
"Of course not, please sit, its always nice talking to a beautiful woman," was James' response.
"Thank you," she said, she leaned forward as she was sitting down, giving him a wonderful view of her ample bust (a 36D by James' guess). "If I am so beautiful why didn't you come to the stage to watch me dance?"